Tech Firms Push to Hire More Workers From Abroad

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/technology/tech-firms-push-to-hire-more-workers-from-abroad.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=yahoofinance

This article was in the New York Times, Technology section authored by Somini Sengupta.

I have mixed feelings about this topic. Part of me is still saying "Hire American" while part of me feels for these people and their families looking for a fair shake at a better life. I have a few friends who came to the US, live and work here now. They have all become contributing members to their communities and the US in general. Some have even earned and obtained US citizenship.

Mike Buetow wrote "H-1B Free?" in Hot Wire http://circuitsassembly.com/blog/?p=3624, a Circuit Assembly blog, on this topic. Some of his concerns are the same as mine.

One of the statements in NY Times article says, "Unemployment in the technology industry hovers below 4 percent, far less than the national average." They don't say where this number came from. I question the overall accuracy of this number. I've known people from differnet tech fields who were out of work for so long they've change career paths to something totally unrelated.

I don't remember which article I read this in, but there is significant concern that the H-1B is paid far less than the equivalent US citizen. This is neither fair to folks here or the people looking for a better life. They both loose.

I'd like to hear from some folks from both sides of this discussion. What do you think? Just keep if civil and professional.

Thanks,
Allen

The PC isn't dead, it's just gone 'ultramobile'

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/04/09/pc-mobile-gartner-group-ultramobile/2067417/

This article in USA Today, written by Carol Kopp, caught my attention because I am thinking of getting a desktop PC at home to use as a workstation. I still have my laptop which is good for most of my surfing and presenting. Even with a 64bit processor and operating system 4 MB of RAM is not enough to do some tasks I’d like to play with.

OK, so my laptop is a little old. There are some laptops with 8MB capability and a core i5, but how long till that’s not enough. At least with a desktop I can do some upgrades as needed and afforded.

This ultramoble has my interest. I think I’m going to have to wait till they come out in the Fall and take a serious look and see how they compete for power with a desktop workstation.

My questions to you folks, how many still use or prefer a desktop for your serious work? Have you found a laptop that competes in both power and price? Since I haven’t gone the direction of the tablet yet, what have tasks you found to be limited on tablet that can be done easier or faster on a desktop?

Thanks,

Allen

No TV? 5 million U.S. households bid boob tube goodbye

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/07/zero-tv-homes/2061127/

This article on USA online author Ryan Nakashima wrote, “Some people have had it with TV. They've

had enough of the 100-plus channel universe. They don't like timing their lives around network show schedules. They're tired of $100-plus monthly bills”

This was me a while back. No I did rip everything out in a fit of rage. I did my homework. I checked out the web sites of the channels that I watched to see if the shows I watched were available. They were and I bookmarked each one. I checked to see what I could get from a regular antenna and the cost of this. It all seemed very reasonable.

We bought an antenna and played with it as far as strength and location. We did make a couple trips returning equipment for the next one up. But we did get great reception on the basic channels. To tell you the truth, the definition was noticeably better than the cable signal we were getting. Then we turned the cable off and sat back to enjoy out new disconnected freedom.

Then something happened that this article totally missed. Some of these channels caught on to what I, and may other people were doing, and they were loosing revenue. After a couple months some of these stations developed a catch. They made you have to enter in your service provider and account information to enter their streaming shows. But wait. I turned all that off. Why would I need to watch it on line if I had cable or dish and could watch it there?

They locked me out of my perfect plan of freedom. They had me where they wanted me, buying another dish plan just so I could watch my show on the web. I’ve had this current set up for about a year now. I still don’t like it. Cost too much to watch 3 or 4 shows that are only on 4 to 5 months of the year. It’s time to think of a new plan. Something the whole family will be happy with. I’m open to your ideas.

• What do you use for “TV” entertainment?

• Does it really work for you?

• Do you have a new idea you’re thinking of trying?

Put it in the comments and let everybody know.

Thanks,

Allen

Mexico hourly wages now lower than China's

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/04/economy-mexico-wages-idUSL2N0CR1TY20130404

This could have some long term effects on the US ecconomy. But not being an ecconomist, what do I know. Any opinions????

Thanks,

Allen

Five Hot Hybrids Hit The New York Auto Show

http://electronicdesign.com/power/five-hot-hybrids-hit-new-york-auto-show?NL=ED-03&Issue=ED-03_20130403_ED-03_260&YM_RID=allen.t.maddox@gai-tronics.com&YM_MID=1384399&sfvc4enews=42

 

This article is in the trade magazine Electronic Design. I’m not so much a “car guy”, but when they start to talk about electric and hybrid vehicles I get my geek turned on. “Green” cars have been well outside my price rage for a car for a long time. Not so much just the price, but the priority I put on my commuter and how much I’m willing to spend to get back and forth to work.

This article covers a lot of the basics, plus the base price, which never seems to be what those cars would cost me.

Posche Panamera S E-Hybrid

The first is the Posche Panamera S E-Hybrid. I went on line to “build my own”. Cost??? Over $101K. And that’s without all the high end do-dads and gizmos.

http://cc.porsche.com/icc_pcna/ccCall.do?userID=US&lang=us&PARAM=parameter_internet_us&hookURL=http%3A//www.porsche.com/usa/modelstart/all/default.ashx%3Fmodelrange%3Dpanamera&ORDERTYPE=970130&screen=1920x1200&vLevel=2

That gets 33mpg hyw. I guess if I could afford a Porsche anyway I’d be interested.

GMC Yukon Hybrid

http://www.gmc.com/yukon-hybrid-suv.html?seo=msn_|_GMC_Retention_600973_|_GM-Bing-RT-SN-YukonH-BP-Exact_|_YukonH-General_|_gmc%20yukon%20hybrid  Starting out at a little over $52K it’s half the price of the Porsche but seats 8 and plenty of cargo room. This is still out of my price range, but it would be nice for caving trips with the crew.

Chevy Volt

The article has this at a base price of over $31K. Not bad, but still outside my range. I went on the web site and picked a bunch of essential options, like killer radio, and the price is now almost $43K. http://www.chevrolet.com/volt-electric-car/build-your-own.html?x-zipcode=19601#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@

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

I drive a Hyundai Elantra. I’m not sure I’d by another Hyundai. I’d give them the benefit of the doubt that they got their act together by now. The base price of just over $26K is getting closer to my budget. Holy Cow. Went to the web site, entered my zip code and the price jumped a grand already. Just for ha-has, I pick the high end package. Added in the essential sunroof and iPod cable and we’re look at over $32K. https://www.hyundaiusa.com/build-your-hyundai/?vehicle=sonata-hybrid&year=2013

Toyota Prius C

This comes in at a base price just a over $19K. The Prius has probably been around the longest. This gets the best mileage of them all at 53/46 city/hwy. http://www.toyota.com/configurator/#!/series/priusc/grade/Prius%20c%20Four The top end comes in at just over $25K. This is almost a manageable price considering you can still probably incentives. Maybe the savings on gas would compensate the difference in my budget. Maybe a little math will help me decide if this is really something worth looking at or stick to my all gas beater.

Read though and let me know what you think? Anything jump out and screams, “BUY ME!!”

Thanks,

Allen

Mary Golda Ross First Female Engineer at Lockheed and a Cherokee

http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2013/03/celebrating-first-native-american.html

I'd like to encourage you to read the article I linked to above. I've touch on the topic of women in science before. I feel it's important to encourage all American youth to find an interest in science. This is the direction of our future and it must not be ignored.

So read on and enjoy Mary Golda Ross's accomplishments.

Thanks,
Allen